Puzzle



Jan. 19, 1960 H. B. HEDRICK 2,921,793

PUZZLE Filed Nov. 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR H drink Jan. 19, 1960 H. B. HEDRICK 2,921,793

PUZZLE Filed Nov. 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTQENEY United States Patent PUZZLE Herman B. Hedrick, Jonesville, Va.

Application November 15, 1957, Serial No. 696,747

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-159) The present invention relates to puzzles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a puzzle of the type in which the solution thereof consists in a separation of certain parts comprising the puzzle, the parts being apparently inseparable but by certain manipulations of the parts are readily separable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a puzzle which lends itself to entertainment and amusement of those attempting to solve the puzzle, one which lends itself to ready portability, and one which is economically feasible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the puzzle of the present invention, shown in a position of use prior to the first step of solving the puzzle;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the assembly shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevational view showing the first step in the solution of the puzzle;

Fi ure 5 is a fragmentary view showing the second step of the solution;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view showing the next step following the step of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view showing a further step in the solution of the puzzle;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view showing a still further step in the solution;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view showing a partial completion of the next step in the solution of the puzzle;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view showing a completion of the step shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view showing the beginning of still another step in the solution of the puzzle;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view showing an intermediate portion of the step of Figure 11;

Figure 13 shows the completion of the step shown in Figures 11 and 12;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1 but showing the ring at a different position with respect to the opening and aperture, the dotted line showing indi eating the position of the ring at the completion of the steps, as shown in Figures 4 to 13 and repeated for the second positioning of the ring, as shown in Figure 14;

Figure 15 shows the next to final step in the solution of the puzzle, the dotted line showing indicating the final' step in the solution of the puzzle with the ring free of the cord and in a position to be removed from the stop or stop element on one end of the cord; and

Figure 16 is a fragmentary elevational view on a reduced scale showing the ring in a position of apparent solution of the puzzle, which position is naturally deceptive to a user.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the reference numeral 10 indicates a strip member fabricated of wood, plastic, lightweight metal or the like. A length of cord is designated generally by the reference numeral 12 and a ring by the numeral 14. A stop element 16 is secured to one end of the cord 12 and another stop element 18 is secured to the other end of the cord 12. The stop elements 16 and 18 are of a size so as to pass freely through the ring 14 when so manipulated. The thickness and width of the strip member 10 is such that the strip member 10 will also pass freely through the ring' 14 when so manipulated.

I The strip member 10 has an opening 20, more or less circular in shape, extending transversely through the midpart of the strip member 10. The strip member 10 has an aperture 22 extending transversely through the memher 19 inwardly of and adjacent one end of the member 10 and another aperture similarly positioned with reference to the other end of the strip member 11), the latter aperture being designated by the reference numeral 24.

The strip member 10 is provided with a pair of elongated slots extending therethrough inwardly of and ad jacent each end of said member 10 and substantially midway between the apertures 22 and 24 and the opening 20, the slot associated with the aperture 24 being designated by the reference numeral 26 and the slot associated with the aperture 22 being designated by the reference numeral 28. r

The portion of the cord 12 inwardly of the end carrying the stop element 18 is anchored to the member 10 by having several turns wound around the part of the member 10 on one side of the aperture 24. The length of the aperture 24 with respect to the diameter of the ring 14 is such that the ring 14 may not pass through the aperture 24 but the ring 14 may pass freely through each of the slots 26 and 28. From the position of the ring shown, before the solution of the puzzle is to begin in Figure 1, it is apparent that the position of the cord with respect to the slot 28 and the aperture 24 may be disregarded and that the cord 12 may be considered to be anchored to the member 10 on the end of the latter adjacent the aperture 24.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the length of cord 12 is threaded through the slot 22 from one face 32 to the other face 34 of the strip member 10 with the portion 31 adjacent the end of the cord 12 carrying the stop element 16 adjacent the face 32 of the member 10. The cord 12 adjacent the other face 34 of the member 10 is strung along, as at 30 in Figure 1, the member 10 from the face 34 to the face 32 and thence through the aperture 22 from the one face 32 to the other face 34 of the member 10, forming a cord part 36. The cord 12 is then strung around the portion of the member 10 adjacent the aperture 22 to the face 32 of the member 10 and over the cord 12 and back to the other face 34 of the member 11 to form a first loop 38. Next, the cord 12 is strung through the aperture 22 again from the face 34 to the face 32 of the member 10 and thence downwardly through the loop 38 and backwardly, as at 46,

along the member 153 to and through the opening 20- from the one face 32 to the other face 34 of the member 11 The cord 12 then is strung around the portion of the member 16 adjacent the opening 20 to the face 32 of the member 10, over the cord 12 and back to the other face 34 of the member 19 to form a second loop 44. From the other face 34 of the member 10, the cord 12 is next threaded through the opening 20 to the one face 32, through the second loop 44 and then strung backwardly along the memberltl, through the'ring 14, to the end of the member 1%} remote from the aperture 22. The backwardly strung portion of the cord 12 is designated by the numeral 40.

The. .portionofthe cord inwardly of the end carrying the stop element 18 is secured to the end of the member remote from the aperture 22 by being strung through the aperture 24 from'the one face. 332 to the other face 34" of the. member :19, aroundi'theeportion of the member 19 adjacent. the:aperture .2410 the: face,32. The cord 12 is then threaded through ithe: aperture 24 again from the face 321to-the. face 34 of the member 10 and finally strung forwardly along the member 1% to and through the slot 28:-from.;th.e. face .34 to the face 32 of the member 19, terminating inan end portion 41 adjacent the face 32 of the member 10 and carrying the stop element 18 on the other ;end thereof.

In thesolution of the puzzle, reference is had to Figure 4 in: which the first step in the solution has been ac-' complished by manipulating the cord 12 so that the loop 44is enlargedyto a diameter sufficient to permit the slipping of thering 14 frorn the portion 40 to the part 42 of :the cord '12., The loop 4-4 may next be tightened as in;Figure 5 Whichclearly shows the ring 14 on the part 42.

In Figures-fiend 7 the'loop 44 has been enlarged and bent ,back upon itself and drawn through the opening from the face 34 to the face 32 of the member 10. In; Figure 8,- a -loop 44 has been enlarged and the cord 12 shifted 'so that the part 42 is formed into a loop 42 concentrically arranged with respect to the loop 44. In Figure 9; the ;ring .14 is shown in a position partiall through :the double loop formed by the loops 44 and 42. InFigure 110,. the ring 14 is shown completely through the;loop.4-4 and'loop 42' and is shown encircling the other section of the part 42. In Figure 11 the loop 44 is pulled back through the opening 20 with the ring 14 onthe other section of the part 42.

In Figure 12, the loop 44 has been enlarged by manipulating the cord 12 and the ring 14 is in a position toslide along the one section of the part 42 and thence through the loop 44, as shown in Figure 13, and along the section 46 of the cord 12 to the dotted line position remote from the opening 20.

In Figure 14 the ring 14 is shown still on the section 46, such. position of the ring 14 being shown in full lines; The next step in the solution of the puzzle consists inrepeating the steps shown in Figures 4 to 13 by enlarging the loop 38 and folding it back upon itself and bringing it through the aperture 22'and passing the ring, 14 through the loop 38 and the loop formed by one leg of the part 36, thence through the loop 38 after the latter has been pulledout of the aperture 22 and around .to the one faceof the member ltiand from the other leg of the part 36 through the loop 38 to the dotted linev position shown in Figure 14, in which position the ring 14 is freeto be slidably moved along the portion Sit-to the slot 26, through the slot 26' and withdrawn from the cord 12 over the stop element 16, as shown in Figure 15;

After solution of the puzzle, the ring 14 may be returnedv to its. position encircling the portion 49 of the cord 12 by reversing the steps as above described, slipping the ring 14 over the stop element 16, through the slot 26 and back to the aperture 22 with the reversing of the steps of folding each of the loops 38 and 44 back upon. themselves and slipping the ring 14 through the associated portions of such loops 38 and 44.

In Figure 16, the ring 14 has been shifted along the cord portion until it is adjacent the aperture 24, and the simple solution of the problem would be to insert the strip'10 through the ring 14.' However, this is not possible because the several turns 48 of the cord 12 prevent this insertion. So, the solution of the problem does not include, at any time, the insertion of the strip 10 :through .the ring 14, although the ring 14 is of a size such. as .to permit such insertion. This deception creates confusion in the mind of the user and enhances thecomplexity .of the puzzle of the present invention.

While only a single embodiment of the present inven v 4 tion has been shown and described, other embodiments are contemplated and numerous changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A puzzle comprising an elongated strip member having an opening extending transversely through the midpart thereof and having an aperture extending transversely therethrough inwardlyjflof and adjacent one end of said member, said member having an elongated slot extending therethrough inwardly of-and-adjacent the other end thereof, a length ,ofcordthreaded through said slot from one face of said member to the other face thereof with theportion adjacent one'end adjacent one face of said member, a stop element of a thickness greater than the width of said slot positioned adjacent said one face of said member and carried by said cord one end, the cordadjacent said other face of said member being strung along said member from said other face tosaid one face of said member, through said aperture, around the portion of said member adjacent said aperture to said one .face of said member, over said cord and back to said other face of said member to form a first loop, through said aperture from said other face to said one face of said member, through, said loop, backwardly along said member to and through said opening 'from said one face to said other face of said member, around the portion of said member adjacent said opening to said one face of said member, over said cord and back to said other face of said member to form a second loop, through said opening from said other face to said one face of said member, through said second loop and backwardly along said member to and secured to the end of said member remote from said aperture, and a ring element of a size to pass freely through said slot and over said stop'element circumpo-sed about said cord and freely slidable thereon, the opening and the slot being each of a size to permit the passage of the cord therethrough but prevent passage of the ring element therethrough, and the aperture being of a size to permit the passage of the cord and ring element therethrough.

2. A puzzle comprising an elongated strip member having an opening extending transversely through the "midpart thereof and having an aperture extending transversely therethrough inwardly of and adjacent one end of said member, there being another aperture in said member extending therethrough inwardly of and adjacent the other end of said member, said member having an elongated first slot extending therethrough inwardly of and adjacent the other end thereof and also an elongated second .slot extending therethrough inwardly of and adjacent the one end thereof, a length of cord threaded through said first slot from one face of said member to the other face thereof with the portion adjacent one end adjacent one face of said member, a stop element of a thickness greater than the width of said slot positioned adjacent said one face of said member and carried by said cord one end, the cord adjacent the other face of said member being strung along said member from said other face to said one face of said member, through said first mentioned aperture, around the portion of said member adjacent said first mentioned aperture to said one face of said member, over said cord and back to said other face of said member to form a first loop, through said first mentioned aperture from said other face to said one face of said member, through said loop, backwardly along said member to and through said opening from said one face to said other face of said member, around the portion of said member adjacent said opening to said one face of said member, over said cord and back to said other face of said member to form a second loop, through said opening from said other facerto said one faceof said member, through said second loop and backwardly along said member to and through said other aperture from said one faceto said other face of said member, around the portion of said member adjacent said another aperture to said one face of said member through said another aperture from said one face to said other face of said member, forwardly along said member to and through said second slot from said other face to said one face of said member, a ring element of a size to pass freely through said slot and over said stop element circumposed about said cord and freely slidable thereon, and a second stop element of a thickness greater than the Width of said second slot positioned adjacent and secured to the other end of the portion of said cord adjacent said second slot, the opening and the slots being each of a size to permit the passage of the cord therethrough but prevent passage of the ring element therethrough, and the apertures being each of a size to permit the passage of the cord and ring element therethrough.

3. The device according to claim 1, in which said strip member is of a size to pass freely through said ring element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 922,874 Foss May 25, 1809 925,752 Carty et a1 June 22, 1909 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,599 Great Britain 18-91 

